New initiative aims to create vital meeting places for LGBTQI+ people in Sweden

A new initiative called Stonewall Spaces is launching in Sweden to combat the shortage of meeting places for LGBTQI+ individuals, particularly in rural communities. The project aims to make it easier for people to establish their own queer events and spaces by connecting them with available venues.

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We want to lower the thresholds for starting something of your own.

Nearly three-quarters of Swedish municipalities lack a dedicated meeting place for young LGBTQI+ people, according to figures from the Agency for Youth and Civil Society. Malin Andrée, a co-founder of the queer collective Flat Mates and an advisor for the initiative, highlighted the need to "lower the thresholds for starting something of your own."

The Stonewall Spaces platform functions by allowing private individuals and businesses to list their available spaces, such as bars, restaurants, or cafes. Those looking to organize queer clubs or events can then easily find and rent these locations. Andrée expressed hope that this will foster more queer gatherings throughout Sweden, allowing people to experience "queer joy."

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I hope this creates meeting places around Sweden, and that people will feel this queer joy.

Andrée emphasized the critical importance of these spaces, stating, "Our rights are only getting fewer and fewer, so these meeting places are vital for people." She described a personal transformation, noting the difference between life before and after creating her own queer family, underscoring the profound impact such communities have on individuals' well-being and sense of belonging.

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Our rights are only getting fewer and fewer, so these meeting places are vital for people. For me, it's like I've lived two different lives: there's a before and after the time I created my own queer family.